The origin of this erstwhile French
colony is buried in legends. According to one view, the town was once called
Vedapuri, and was a seat of Vedic culture and the abode of Sage Agastya.
Professor Jonvean Dubrouil, the French archaeologist, believes that the
Ashram of Agastya stood on the very spot where the main building of the Sri
Aurobindo Ashram stands today.

History

Remnants of an ancient port town
have been excavated at Arikamedu, 6 kms from Pondicherry. These indicate
that the town had trade connections with Rome and Greece around the period
100 BC to 100 AD. Pondicherry continued to flourish even during the Chola
period, as the discovery of the Chola coins from the eleventh and twelfth
centuries indicate.

The history of modern Pondicherry starts with the arrival of the French in
1673. They went on to rule for most of the next 281 years, and even today,
Pondicherry exudes a Mediterranean ambience, with its chic streets, elegant
houses, ornamental gardens and afternoon siestas. The restaurants offer a
rich variety of food: French, Indian, Creole, Vietnamese and Continental.

Pondicherry is oval-shaped, with streets aligned at right angles. The
skillfully planned township is distinguished by a 3 km long esplanade that
skirts the town. The main mode of transport is the bicycle.

The Union Territory of Pondicherry actually comprises 4 coastal regions -
Pondicherry and Karaikal (both on the East Coast of Tamil Nadu), Mahe (on
the West Coast of Kerala) and Yanam (in Andhra Pradesh).

Fast Facts
of Pondicherry

Area

492, Sq. Km

Population

.97
Million

Capital

Pondicherry

Climate

Throughout the Year Warm

Clothing

Throughout the Year - Cottons

Languages Spoken

Tamil, French, English

Best Time to Visit

Between November and May

Places to Interest :

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Established by Sri Aurobindo, a revolutionary turned poet, and
later developed by the Mother, a Paris-born painter musician who became Sri
Aurobindo's disciple and close companion, the Ashram has grown into a centre
for the practice of Integral Yoga, a seat of learning and a training ground
for sadhana. In the main building of the Ashram is the Marble Samadhi where
Aurobindo and the Mother have been laid to rest.

Promenade

The 1.5 km long promenade running along the beach is the pride
of Pondicherry. On the sea front are several landmarks: the statues of
Mahatma Gandhi, Jeanne d'Arc and Dupleix, the elegant war memorial raised by
the French, the heritage building Mairie, the 27 metre tall old lighthouse,
the circular shaped two storied structures on either side of Gandhi maidan.

The Pondicherry Museum

The Museum brings back memories of the glorious past of
Pondicherry, from the days of the pre-Christian era down to the present day,
providing glimpses of the art and culture of the people of this region
during the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar days. Artefacts from the
excavations at Arikamedu can be viewed here.

Auroville

Located 10 kms north of Pondicherry, Auroville is described as
"the City of Tomorrow". Auroville was envisioned as a Universal Town, where
people from different nationalities, faiths and beliefs, can live in peace
and harmony. Here, an attempt is being made to replicate, on much larger
scale, the experiment being carried out in Sri Aurobindo Ashram for the
evolution of a new society as envisioned by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
This society would be one where people "live freely as citizens of the
world, obeying one single authority - that of the Supreme Truth ... a place
of peace, concord, harmony". The construction of Auroville was started in
1968, under the Mother's direction. Several countries have set up pavilions
here.

The Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden in Pondicherry was created in 1826. When
the garden came under the control of the eminent botanist Perottet "rare and
interesting plants" were procured from Calcutta, Madras, Ceylon and Reumian.
Its' collection numbers 1500 species.

Temples

There are about 32 temples in Pondicherry. Of these, Manakula
Vinayagar temple, Sri Vedapureeswarar temple, Kamatchiammalle temple and
Varadarajaperumal temple are famous. The Gokilambal Thirukameswarar Temple
is architecturally the best. A rath yatra (temple car procession) takes
place in May/June.

Churches

French missionary zeal in the XVII and XVIII Centuries saw a
number of grandly embellished churches built in Pondicherry. The Church of
the Capuchins was the first one built and the old only one to survive the
destruction of the town in 1761. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
built in 1791 has interesting ornamental features. The Church of Sacred
Heart of Jesus (has excellent stained glass windows), the Cathedral, the
Eglise de Notre Dame A'es Angles are particularly noteworthy.

Anglo-French textile mills

This mill, established over 100 years ago, is still
functioning and an ideal place to buy souvenirs and gifts.

Mansion of Ananda Rangapillai

He was a courtier of the French Governor, Dupleix, and the
mansion is a fine specimen of Indo-French architecture.

Chunnambar Water Sports Centre

Facilities for boating are available at the Boat House on the
River Chunnambar, 8 kms from Pondicherry. The backwater and the lush
greenery on both sides of Chunnambar provide an ideal setting. Boats are
available on hire on all days of the week.